Safety device for elevators



G. ALFANO.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1917.

Pdtenteql Jan. 6,1920.

INVENTOR GIUSEPPE ALFANO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. 6, 1920.

Application filed May 25, 1917. SerialNol 171,060.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Giusnrrn ALrANo, a subject of the iiing of Italy, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety device for elevators and the object is to provide improved means for preventing the descent of an elevator car when the usual hoisting cable breaks.

A further object is to provide means whereby the car is supported and operated within an auxiliary frame, the latter being supported ,by cables independent of those supporting the car proper, and said frame being normally lifted by the car, and on the other hand, being adapted to support the weight of the car in the event that the main cable breaks.

A further object is to provide a frame comprising a structure which in fact constitutes a supplemental car or cage with independent cables connected therewith, and within which the main car operates; the car last named being under the control of the main cable, normally taut, and supporting the weight of the supplemental car until the main cable parts through accident, at which time the tendency of the main car to descend is checked by the supplemental car and the weight is carried by the latter and by the cables provided therefor.

A. still further object is to provide means whereby the operation of the car after the main cable breaks may be continued, with out even the inconvenience of momentarily disengaging any safety device such as those frequently employed.

A still further object is to provide safety mechanism which may be used in connection with mine cars and the like traveling on an incline instead of within a vertical shaft.

ll ith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a view in elevation of a por tion of the shaft structure, showing a cage mounted within the frame constituting a portion of the safety apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section through the car and frame.

F ig. 8 is a transverse section.

Fig. iis a transverse section through the vertical shaft members, showing the frame therein in top plan, and showing a portion of the cage in top plan.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the elevator shaft includes a plurality of vertical guides 10, ll, 12 and 13, these guides being formed of angle bars or the like and being positioned in the corner portions of the shaft. The guides are suitably braced by means of transverse members 1% and diagonally extending members 15.

The car proper is mounted within a supplemental car or frame, as above indicated, said car first named being designated 18 and including lower angle bars 19, 20, 21 and 22, the horizontal flanges of which may serve to support the floor 23 of the car. The corner members comprise angle bars 25, 26, 27 and 28, these bars having connection at their upper ends with the corners of the frame constituting the roof of the car. The angle bars of the frame last named are designated 29, 30, 81, and 32 and their horizontally extending flanges have connection with bars 33 and extending at an angle with each other and each having connection with corners diagonally opposite one another. While in the description of the above construction I have specified angle bars it will be understood that where necessary or desirable other structural members may be employed.

An eye bolt 35 is secured to the upper portion of the roof of the car and centrally thereof, said bolt extending through certain elements of the supplemental car or frame described below, and being constructed and adapted for supporting the entire weight of the main car under normal conditions. A main cable 37 is connected with the bolt and passes over the usual sheaves and thence to the winding drum.

The supplemental car or frame is designated 4:0 and the dimensions thereof are such that it will receive the main car and in a measure constitute a guiding member therefor, said frame cooperating directly with the vertical shaft guides 10, 11, 12 and 13. The vertical dimensions of the frame are suflicient to provide a given amount of play between the frame and the main car, permitting movement to a slight extent in the event that the main cable is parted through accident.

In essential points the construction of the frame corresponds with the construction of the main car. The lower section of the frame includes a plurality of angle members constituting the sides of said lower section and these members are reinforced by means of intersecting braces l3 and 4A, the lower section as a whole being designated 45. The upper section is designated 46 and the vertical corner members constituting guides are shown at 4:7, 48, i9 and 50. These guides cooperate with the shaft members previously referred to.

The upper portion of the frame is provided with a plurality of cable supporting devices, or eye bolts, and in the present instance I have shown four of these devices positioned as illustrated. They are designated 51, 52, 58 and 5 1 and have connection with supplemental cables 55, 56, 57 and 58, passing over the necessary sheaves and thence to the winding drum.

Under normal conditions the main cable is taut and the supplemental cables are slightly slack, all of said cables passing over the winding drum 60. The main cable will serve to retain the main car in such position within the frame that the latter will be lifted by the car and by the main cable during the normal operation of the mechamsm.

In the event that the cable parts through accident the main car will descend a slight distance until it is supported by the lower section of the frame within which the main car is operated. The weight is then thrown on the supplemental cables and the car continues to operate without further incident. The main cable may then be repaired as soon as desired. It will be observed that there is no jamming of the car in the shaft and no engaging device which must be set free with considerable labor in order that the car may be moved from perhaps an extremely inconvenient position to a position where the passengers or freight may be discharged.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a car, a main cable supporting the car, a frame within which said car is mounted for unobstructed movement, said frame cooperating with shaft guiding members, cables connected with the frame and adapted to support the car when the main cable is disconnected, a single winding element for all of said cables, said car normally supporting the frame from the upper side thereof, and the frame supporting the car when the latter is released by its normal supporting means.

2. In a device of the class described, a car, a main cable supporting said car, a frame Within which said car operates, the latter having independent and unobstructed movement within the frame, the structure of said car and frame including a plurality of angle bars, corresponding members of which on the car and on the frame are similarly located, a plurality of cables connected with the frame and adapted to support the frame for unobstructed movement within a shaft when the main cable is disconnected, resulting in the frame supporting the car and a single winding element for all of said cables.

In testimony whereof I affix m signature.

GIUSEPPE ALFANO. 

